In recent months, a Facebook group named “Mothers Cook Together” emerged in Israel, resembling an established cooking forum but serving as a facade for a foreign influence operation. A Haaretz investigation revealed that this and similar groups were engineered using AI-generated content to attract conservative Israelis and collect personal data for political messaging. The underlying campaign remains unidentified, with possible ties to China, Russia, or Iran based on previous patterns. Researchers warn that Israel, ahead of its 2026 elections, could face disinformation tactics akin to a 2022 Romanian campaign that influenced voter sentiment through religious content. The sophistication of AI has heightened these campaigns, making them harder to detect, as they produce authentic-looking posts that sow misinformation. Without a structured governmental response to combat these influence operations, experts stress the importance of public skepticism and awareness to mitigate the pervasive threat of disinformation in Israel’s political landscape.
Source link
Share
Read more